JP2014167607A - Cleaning device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve cleaning that is excellent and hardly affected by application of bias and environmental conditions.SOLUTION: A cleaning device according to the present invention brings a surface 1a of a cleaning member 1 into contact with a surface 50a of an image carrier capable of carrying an image and having the movable surface, so as to recover an attachment T attached onto the surface of the image carrier. The cleaning member has an edge part 2 formed thereon, and includes moving means 5 that brings the surface of the cleaning member located at the edge part into contact with the surface of the image carrier, and moves, at a contact part 4 where the surface of the image carrier and the surface of the cleaning member are in contact with each other, the surface of the cleaning member in a direction in which the attachment on the surface of the image carrier does not pass under the contact part.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning device that collects deposits adhering to the surface of an image carrier and an image forming apparatus including the same.

2. Description of the Related Art There is known a cleaning device that cleans deposits such as transfer residual toner and paper dust attached to the surface of an image carrier. For example, in Patent Document 1, a belt-shaped cleaning member wound between rollers is brought into contact with the surface of the image carrier to form a nip portion and a bias is applied to electrostatically attach the surface of the image carrier. A cleaning is disclosed in which a kimono is attached to a cleaning member and removed.
In Patent Document 2, a belt-shaped cleaning member is brought into contact with the surface of a fixing roller as a cleaning object with a roller member, and the cleaning member is moved in a direction opposite to the rotation of the fixing roller to adhere to the surface of the fixing roller. There has been disclosed a cleaning device that scrapes off the dirt by a sliding contact operation.

In the configuration of Patent Document 1, since the deposit on the surface of the image carrier is electrostatically attached to the cleaning member and removed, an electrical configuration such as a power source is essential, and an obstacle to cost reduction. It has become. In addition, electrostatic adsorption varies depending on environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity, and the adsorption state also varies depending on the temperature and humidity of the cleaning member. Therefore, materials and controls that are not affected by these environmental conditions Is required.
In the configuration of Patent Document 2, since the dirt is scraped off by moving the cleaning member on the surface of the fixing roller, an electrical configuration such as a power source is unnecessary, but there is a concern that the cleaning is insufficient.
An object of the present invention is to achieve good cleaning which is hardly affected by bias application or environmental conditions.

  In order to achieve the above object, the cleaning device according to the present invention is configured to bring the surface of the image bearing member into contact with the surface of the image bearing member that can carry an image and whose surface is movable. A cleaning device for collecting deposits adhering to the cleaning member, wherein the cleaning member is formed with an edge portion or a small diameter portion, and the surface of the cleaning member located at the edge portion or the small diameter portion is brought into contact with the surface of the image carrier. And moving means for moving the surface of the cleaning member in a direction in which deposits on the surface of the image carrier do not pass through the contact portion at the contact portion where the surface of the image carrier and the surface of the cleaning member are in contact with each other. It is characterized by having.

  According to the present invention, the deposit on the surface of the image carrier does not pass through the contact portion between the cleaning member and the surface of the image carrier, and is transferred to the surface of the cleaning member at the edge portion or the small diameter portion of the cleaning member. To go. As a result, deposits on the surface of the image carrier can be recovered well, and good cleaning can be achieved.

The figure which shows 1st Embodiment of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows 2nd Embodiment of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows 3rd Embodiment of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows 4th Embodiment of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows 5th Embodiment of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on this invention. The enlarged view explaining the structure of the contact member which concerns on this invention. The enlarged view which shows the modification of the contact member which concerns on this invention. The comparison figure of the conventional cleaning apparatus and the cleaning apparatus which concerns on this invention. The figure explaining the cleaning principle of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a form in which the cleaning device according to the invention is applied to a color image forming apparatus. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a sixth embodiment in which the cleaning device according to the invention is applied to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a seventh embodiment in which the cleaning device according to the invention is applied to an ink jet type color image forming apparatus. The figure which shows 8th Embodiment of the cleaning apparatus provided with the protection means. The figure which shows 9th Embodiment which applied the cleaning apparatus provided with the protection means to the color image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic system. The figure which shows 10th Embodiment which applied the cleaning apparatus provided with the protection means to the color image forming apparatus of an ink jet type. The figure which shows 11th Embodiment of the cleaning apparatus which used the contact member as the rotary body. The figure which shows 12th Embodiment of the cleaning apparatus which has an auxiliary means. It is a figure explaining the form of an auxiliary member, (a) is an enlarged view of the contact state of an auxiliary member with a flat contact surface and the contact member, (b) is an auxiliary member as a rotating body and the contact member The enlarged view of a contact state, (c) is the enlarged view of the contact state of a deformable auxiliary member and a contact member. It is a figure explaining the contact state of the auxiliary member as a rotating body, and a contact member, (a) is an enlarged view which shows the state which an auxiliary member rotates with rotation of a contact member, (b) is an auxiliary member drive The enlarged view which shows the state performed, (c) is an enlarged view which shows the state which an auxiliary member rotates with a cleaning member. It is a figure which shows one form of the support climate of a contact member and an auxiliary member, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view. It is a figure which shows another form of the support climate of a contact member and an auxiliary member, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, the cleaning device will be described, and then the image forming apparatus including the cleaning device will be described.
A plurality of embodiments relating to the cleaning device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In each embodiment, the same member is denoted by the same reference numeral, and the description thereof is omitted in the subsequent embodiments.

(First embodiment)
A cleaning device 301 shown in FIG. 1 has a surface of an endless belt-like cleaning member 1 on a surface (hereinafter referred to as “image carrier surface”) 50a of an image carrier 50 that can carry an image on its surface and rotates. The deposit T attached to the image carrier surface 50a is recovered by bringing the recovery surface 1a into contact therewith. The cleaning member 1 has an edge portion 2 formed in a part thereof, and a collection surface 1a located at the edge portion 2 is brought into contact with the image carrier surface 50a. In the inner loop of the cleaning member 1, a plate-like contact member 3 that makes the collection surface 1a contact the image carrier surface 50a is disposed. The edge portion 2 is formed as an arcuate surface 2a by pressing and abutting the tip 3a of the contact member 3 against the inner surface 1b of the cleaning member which is the surface opposite to the recovery surface 1a of the cleaning member. .

The cleaning member 1 has a recovery surface of the cleaning member 1 in a direction in which the deposit T on the image carrier surface 50a does not pass through the contact portion 4 at the contact portion 4 where the image carrier surface 50a contacts the recovery surface 1a. It has the moving means 5 which moves 1a. The moving means 5 includes a roller 6 around which the cleaning member 1 is wound, and a driving motor 7 as a driving means for rotationally driving a roller driving shaft 6 a that supports the roller 6.
The cleaning member 1 is stretched between the roller 6 and the abutting member 3, and the driving force from the driving motor 7 is transmitted to the roller driving shaft 6 a so that the roller 6 is rotationally driven, whereby the image carrier. Rotate and move in contact with 50, preferably in pressure contact. A tension is applied to the cleaning member 1 by disposing the roller 6 or the abutting member 3 in directions away from each other or by urging one of them with an urging means such as a spring (not shown).
In this embodiment, in the contact portion 4, the image carrier 50 rotates in the clockwise direction in the drawing so that the moving direction of the image carrier surface 50a and the moving direction of the collection surface 1a are opposite to each other, and cleaning is performed. The member 1 rotates in the clockwise direction. In the contact portion 4 in FIG. 1, the image carrier surface 50a moves from left to right, and the collection surface 1a moves from right to left.

In this embodiment, the entire shape of the cleaning member 1 spanned between the roller 6 and the abutting member 3 is formed to be narrower and sharper on the abutting member 3 side than on the roller 6 side. Further, the cleaning member 1 is arranged so that the angle θ formed by the image carrier surface 50a and the recovery surface 1a of the cleaning member 1 located downstream of the contact portion 4 in the moving direction of the cleaning member 1 becomes an obtuse angle. doing.
When the cleaning device 301 according to this embodiment is applied to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the image carrier 50 corresponds to a photosensitive member on which a toner image is formed or an intermediate transfer member on which a toner image is transferred. To do.

  The cleaning device 301 has a deposit removing means 8 that removes the deposit T from the recovery surface 1a. The deposit removing means 8 comes into contact with the recovery surface 1a downstream of the contact portion 4 in the moving direction of the cleaning member 1, and the cleaning member 1 rotates to move in sliding contact with the recovery surface 1a. The deposit T is removed from the collection surface 1a. As the deposit removing means 8, a roller-shaped or blade-shaped one is used.

The inventors of the present application created a model of the cleaning device 301 having such a configuration, and formed and tested the deposit T on the image carrier 50 with, for example, toner. In the moving direction of the cleaning member 1, the cleaning member 1 does not pass through the downstream of the contact portion 4 in the rotation direction of the image carrier 50 and does not pass through the contact portion 4 downstream of the rotation direction of the image carrier 50. It was confirmed that the material was sequentially transferred to the member 1.
Therefore, the deposit T on the image carrier 50 can be attached to the cleaning member 1 and collected without applying a bias to the cleaning member 1 as in the prior art. In addition, since no bias is used, there is no variation in electric field generated by bias application due to environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. Therefore, when the deposit T is collected from the image carrier 50 by the cleaning member 1, it is difficult to be affected by environmental conditions, and good cleaning can be achieved. In addition, since no bias is used, facilities such as a power source are not required, and space saving and cost reduction are facilitated.

(Second Embodiment)
A cleaning device 302 shown in FIG. 2 is obtained by horizontally inverting the cleaning device 1 according to the first embodiment with reference to the contact portion 4. The difference from the first embodiment is that the angle θ formed between the image carrier surface 50a and the recovery surface 1a of the cleaning member 1 located downstream of the contact portion 4 in the moving direction of the cleaning member 1 is an acute angle. The cleaning member 1 is arranged so as to be.

The inventors of the present application created a model of the cleaning device 302 having such a configuration, and formed and tested the deposit T on the image carrier 50 with, for example, toner. As in the first embodiment, the deposit T However, the cleaning member 1 does not pass through the cleaning member 1 downstream of the contact portion 4 in the rotation direction of the image carrier 50 and does not pass through the contact member 4 downstream of the rotation direction of the image carrier 50. It was confirmed that the transfer to the cleaning member 1 was sequentially performed in the moving direction of 1.
For this reason, even with the cleaning device 302 having such an arrangement, when the deposit T is collected from the image carrier 50 by the cleaning member 1, it is not easily affected by environmental conditions, and good cleaning is achieved. Can do. In addition, since no bias is used, facilities such as a power source are not required, and space saving and cost reduction are facilitated.

(Third embodiment)
A cleaning device 303 shown in FIG. 3 is obtained by adding a roller 9 to the cleaning device 301 described in the first embodiment and spanning the cleaning member 1 between the rollers 6 and 9 and the contact member 3. Then, the entire shape of the cleaning member 1 in which the cleaning member 1 is stretched over the rollers 6 and 9 and the contact member 3 is formed to have an obtuse angle on the contact member 3 side. Further, the cleaning member 1 is arranged so that the angle θ formed by the image carrier surface 50a and the recovery surface 1a of the cleaning member 1 located downstream of the contact portion 4 in the moving direction of the cleaning member 1 is an acute angle. doing.

The inventors of the present application created a model of the cleaning device 303 having such a configuration, and formed and tested the deposit T on the image carrier 50 with toner, for example. As in the first embodiment, the deposit T However, the cleaning member 1 does not pass through the cleaning member 1 downstream of the contact portion 4 in the rotation direction of the image carrier 50 and does not pass through the contact member 4 downstream of the rotation direction of the image carrier 50. It was confirmed that the transfer to the cleaning member 1 was sequentially performed in the moving direction of 1.
For this reason, even with the cleaning device 303 having such an arrangement, when the deposit T is collected from the image carrier 50 by the cleaning member 1, it is hardly affected by environmental conditions, and good cleaning is achieved. Can do. In addition, since no bias is used, facilities such as a power source are not required, and space saving and cost reduction are facilitated.

(Fourth embodiment)
The cleaning device 304 shown in FIG. 4 collects the deposit T attached to the image carrier surface 50a by bringing the collection surface 10a to be the surface of the endless belt-like cleaning member 10 into contact with the image carrier surface 50a. To do. The cleaning member 10 has a small-diameter portion 20 formed in a part thereof, and the collection surface 10a located in the small-diameter portion 20 is brought into contact with the image carrier surface 50a. In the inner loop of the cleaning member 10, a roller-like contact member 30 that makes the collection surface 10 a contact the image carrier surface 50 a is disposed. The small-diameter portion 20 is formed as an arcuate surface 20a by pressing the outer peripheral surface 30a of the abutting member 30 against the inner surface 10b of the cleaning member 10 which is the surface opposite to the cleaning surface 10a of the cleaning member. ing.

The cleaning member 10 has a recovery surface of the cleaning member 10 in a direction in which the deposit T on the image carrier surface 50a does not pass through the contact portion 40 at the contact portion 40 where the image carrier surface 50a contacts the recovery surface 10a. It has the moving means 5 which rotates 10a. The moving means 5 has the same configuration as in the first embodiment. The cleaning member 10 is stretched between the roller 6 and the contact member 30, and the driving force from the driving motor 7 is transmitted to the roller driving shaft 6 a so that the roller 6 is rotated, whereby the image carrier. Rotate and move in contact with 50, preferably in pressure contact. A tension is applied to the cleaning member 10 by disposing the roller 6 or the contact member 30 in a direction away from each other or by urging one of them with a biasing means such as a spring (not shown).
In this embodiment, in the contact portion 40, the image carrier 50 rotates in the clockwise direction in the drawing so that the relative movement direction between the image carrier surface 50a and the collection surface 10a is reversed, and the cleaning member 10 rotates in the clockwise direction.

  In this embodiment, the shape of the cleaning member 10 spanned between the roller 6 and the contact member 30 is formed to have an acute angle on the contact member 30 side. Further, the cleaning member 10 is arranged so that the angle θ formed by the image carrier surface 50a and the recovery surface 10a of the cleaning member 10 located downstream of the contact portion 40 in the moving direction of the cleaning member 10 becomes an obtuse angle. doing.

  The cleaning device 304 has a deposit removing means 8 that removes the deposit T from the recovery surface 10a. The deposit removing means 8 has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and comes into contact with the collection surface 10a on the downstream side in the movement direction of the cleaning member 10 with respect to the contact portion 40, and the cleaning member 01 rotates and moves. The deposit T on the recovery surface 10a is removed from the recovery surface while being in sliding contact with the surface 10a.

The inventors of the present application created a model of the cleaning device 304 having such a configuration, and formed and tested the deposit T on the image carrier 50 with, for example, toner. In the moving direction of the cleaning member 10, the cleaning member 10 does not pass through to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the image carrier 50 with respect to the contact part 40 and does not pass through to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the image carrier 50 with respect to the contact part 40. It was confirmed that the material was sequentially transferred to the member 10.
Therefore, the deposit T on the image carrier 50 can be attached to the cleaning member 10 and collected without applying a bias to the cleaning member 10 as in the prior art. In addition, since no bias is used, there is no variation in electric field generated by bias application due to environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. Therefore, when the deposit T is collected from the image carrier 50 by the cleaning member 10, it is difficult to be affected by environmental conditions, and good cleaning can be achieved. In addition, since no bias is used, facilities such as a power source are not required, and space saving and cost reduction are facilitated.

(Fifth embodiment)
The cleaning device 305 shown in FIG. 5 uses a plate-like contact member 31 that is thicker than the contact member 3 according to the first embodiment. In this case, the cleaning member 1 is stretched between the contact member 31 and the roller 6, and is rotationally moved in the clockwise direction in the drawing by the drive motor 7. The edge portion 2 of the cleaning member 1 is formed as an arcuate surface 2a by pressing the corner portion 31a of the contact member 31 against the inner surface 1b of the cleaning member 1 and bringing it into contact. The shape of the cleaning member 1 in which the cleaning member 1 is stretched between the roller 6 and the contact member 31 is formed to have an obtuse angle at the corner 31 a of the contact member 31. Further, the cleaning member 1 is arranged so that the angle θ formed by the image carrier surface 50a and the recovery surface 1a of the cleaning member 1 located downstream of the contact portion 4 in the moving direction of the cleaning member 1 is an acute angle. doing.

The inventors of the present application created a model of the cleaning device 305 having such a configuration, and formed and tested the deposit T on the image carrier 50 with, for example, toner. As in the first embodiment, the deposit T However, the cleaning member 1 does not pass through the cleaning member 1 downstream of the contact portion 4 in the rotation direction of the image carrier 50 and does not pass through the contact member 4 downstream of the rotation direction of the image carrier 50. It was confirmed that the transfer to the cleaning member 1 was sequentially performed in the moving direction of 1.
For this reason, even with the cleaning device 305 having such an arrangement, when the deposit T is collected from the image carrier 50 by the cleaning member 1, it is not easily affected by environmental conditions, and good cleaning is achieved. Can do. In addition, since no bias is used, facilities such as a power source are not required, and space saving and cost reduction are facilitated.

Next, the contact members 3 and 31 formed of the plate-like members described in each embodiment and the contact member 30 formed of a roller member will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
In the first to third embodiments, the tip 3a of the plate-like contact member 3 is pressed against and brought into contact with the inner surface 1b of the cleaning member 1 so that the contact portion with the image carrier surface 50a is an arc surface 2a. Forming. As shown in FIG. 6A, the tip 3a of the abutting member 3 in this case has an arcuate shape as a whole, and the entire tip 3a is pressed against the inner surface 1b of the cleaning member 1 to form the image carrier surface 50a. The contact portion (the recovery surface 1a side of the cleaning member 1) is an arc surface 2a.

In the fifth embodiment, a corner 31a at the tip of a plate-like contact member 31 thicker than the contact member 3 is pressed against and brought into contact with the inner side surface 1b of the cleaning member 1 to contact the image carrier surface 50a. The contact location is formed as an arc surface 2a. In this case, the contact member 31 does not form the entire tip in an arc shape, but only the corner portion 31a has an arc shape as shown in FIG. 6B, and only the corner portion 31a of the tip is cleaned. A portion of contact with the image carrier surface 50a by pressing against the inner surface 1b of the member 1 (the recovery surface 1a side of the cleaning member 1) is an arc surface 2a.
In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6C, an arc is formed by pressing substantially half of the outer circumferential surface 30a of the roller-shaped abutting member 30 against the inner surface 10b of the cleaning member 10 so as to abut. A surface 20a is formed.

  The inventors of the present invention have tested the arc surfaces 2a and 20a by changing the dimensions of the arc surfaces 2a and 20a. As a result, the arc surfaces 2a and 20a are provided with the contact portions 4 and 40 when the radius of curvature R is 4 mm or less. It was confirmed that the kimono T did not pass through and could be satisfactorily cleaned. This is much smaller in diameter than an abutting member of a cleaning device (here, a web cleaning device) that does not use a bias described in Patent Document 2. The curvature radius R is preferably 2 mm or more. As a material of the contact member 3, a resin member, or a metal member such as aluminum or stainless steel can be used.

  The contact member is not limited to a plate shape or a roller shape. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, an “arc-shaped” member 60, or as shown in FIG. A “shaped” member 61 may be used. In addition, when a resin member is used as the contact member, it is considered that the cleaning member wears due to rotational movement, although it depends on the material of the cleaning members 1 and 10. For this reason, a member 60 made of metal is attached to the tip 3a of the contact member 3 as shown in FIG. 7C, or a corner of the contact member 31 is shown in FIG. 7D. A member 61 made of metal may be attached to improve wear resistance.

Next, the point that the configuration of each of the cleaning devices described above is superior to the configuration of the conventional web cleaning device will be discussed with reference to FIG. FIG. 8A is an enlarged view schematically showing the vicinity of the contact portion of the web cleaning device, and FIG. 8B is an enlarged view schematically showing the vicinity of the contact portion of the cleaning device according to the present invention.
In the case of the web cleaning device, as shown in FIG. 8A, it is inferred that the deposit is sandwiched at the contact portion, and the deposit is transferred from the surface of the image carrier to the cleaning member in the sandwiched area. . This is presumably because the radius of curvature of the abutting member is large and the adhering matter is sandwiched up to the contact portion.
On the other hand, since the arc-shaped edge portion 2 is formed by the contact member 3 at the entrance of the contact portion 4 as shown in FIG. It is assumed that the kimono T is transferred from the image carrier surface 1 a to the cleaning member 1. This is presumably because the radius of curvature of the arcuate surface 2 a by the contact member 3 is small and the deposit T is not sandwiched up to the contact portion 4.
Further, even in the case of the contact member 31 having a plate thickness or the contact member 30 having a roller shape, the radius of the arcuate surfaces 2a and 20a by the contact members 31 and 30 is small, and the adhering material T extends to the contact portions 4 and 40. It is guessed that is not caught.

Next, the cleaning operation according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. In FIG. 9, symbols T1, T2, and T3 schematically show the deposits on the image carrier surface 50a.
As shown in FIG. 9A, the deposits T1, T2, and T3 are arranged on the image carrier surface 50a in the order of movement from the top in the direction of movement, T1, T2, and T3.
As shown in FIG. 9B, the surface 1a of the cleaning member 1 is moving in the direction in which the deposit T1 does not pass through the contact portion 4, so that the deposit T1 approaching the contact portion 4 is an edge. It is presumed that the portion 2 transfers from the image carrier surface 50a to the surface 1a of the cleaning member 1. The direction in which the deposit T1 does not pass through the contact portion 4 is, in other words, the direction opposite to the moving direction of the image carrier surface 50a. Further, the direction is opposite to the direction in which the deposit T1 tries to penetrate the contact portion 4.
As shown in FIG. 9C, the deposit T2 approaching the contact portion 4 is assumed to transfer from the image carrier surface 50a to the surface 1a of the cleaning member 1 at the edge portion 2.
As shown in FIG. 9D, it is assumed that the deposit T3 approaching the contact portion 4 is transferred from the image carrier surface 1a to the surface 1a of the cleaning member 1 at the edge portion 2.
As described above, the deposits T1, T2, and T3 arranged in order in the moving direction of the image carrier surface 50a are assumed to be sequentially transferred onto the cleaning member 1 whose surface moves.

In each of the above embodiments, the image carrier 50 and the cleaning members 1 and 10 are configured to move in opposite directions at the contact portions 4 and 40 between them. The cleaning members 1 and 10 may be rotated so that a relative speed difference occurs between the members 1 and 10. For example, the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described as an example. The rotational speed of the drive motor 7 is changed to change the moving speed of the cleaning member 1 relative to the moving speed of the image carrier 50. That is, when the linear velocity of the cleaning member 1 is α and the linear velocity of the image carrier 50 is β, it is conceivable that the linear velocity α> β or the linear velocity α <β. In this case, β is constant in both cases.
When α> β, it is difficult for toner to accumulate in the cleaning section, and the cleaning performance is maintained over time. When α <β, the amount of rubbing is reduced, so that the durability of the image carrier 50 is increased. That is, when the productivity of the image carrier 50 is constant (surface linear velocity β), the relative speed difference between the cleaning members 1 and 10 as viewed from the image carrier 50 in the contact portions 4 and 40 is α + β. For this reason, the amount of friction (distance) with the cleaning members 1 and 10 per unit time can be reduced by making the linear velocity α smaller than the linear velocity β.
If α = β, in order to generate a speed difference between the two, it is not necessary to take into account a speed change such as a change in the rotational speed of the drive motor 7 or a gear ratio of the drive transmission system. The mechanical configuration can be simplified. For this reason, it can be easily controlled.
The point that the relative speed difference is generated between the image carrier and the cleaning can be applied to the second to fifth embodiments.

Next, an embodiment in which the above-described cleaning device is applied to an image forming apparatus will be described.
(Sixth embodiment)
10A and 10B are schematic views in which the cleaning device 301 is applied to the above-described intermediate transfer member in the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 10B is a cleaning device 301 in the above-described intermediate transfer member particularly in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. FIG.
The image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 10B is capable of full-color image formation using yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners. In the figure, Y, M, C, and K are suffixes indicating members related to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The subscripts Y, M, C, and K are omitted as appropriate to avoid complications.
The image forming apparatus includes a drum-shaped photoconductor 111 (Y, M, C, K) serving as an image carrier, and an image forming unit that forms a toner image of each color on the surface (photoconductor surface) surface 111a of each photoconductor. 110 (Y, M, C, K), a belt-like intermediate transfer body 112 on which toner images formed on the respective photoreceptor surfaces 111a are sequentially transferred and carried as a toner image 130, and an exposure unit 117. .
Each image forming unit includes a known charging unit 110a (Y, M, C, K) and a developing unit 110b (Y, M, C) arranged around each photoconductor 111 that rotates clockwise in FIG. 10B. , K) and the cleaning means 110c (Y, M, C, K).

The intermediate transfer body 112 is wound around rollers 113, 114, and 115. The intermediate transfer body 112 positioned between the roller 113 and the roller 114 is brought into contact with each photoreceptor surface 111a by a primary transfer roller 116 (Y, M, C, K), thereby forming a primary transfer portion. ing. A primary transfer bias is applied to each primary transfer roller 116. The roller 113 is a drive roller and is driven to rotate counterclockwise by the drive motor 113A. When the roller 113 is driven to rotate counterclockwise, the belt-like intermediate transfer member 113 rotates in the counterclockwise direction.
A secondary transfer roller 118 is disposed at a position facing the roller 115 so as to be in contact with the surface 112a of the intermediate transfer body 112 to form a secondary transfer portion. A secondary transfer bias is applied to the secondary transfer portion. In the secondary transfer portion, the transfer paper P is transferred from a paper supply portion (not shown) by a tanmin that the toner image 130 formed by the toner images sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer body 112 in each primary transfer portion reaches the transfer portion. Be transported. In this embodiment, the intermediate transfer body 112 is configured to rotate in the counterclockwise direction.
The cleaning device 301 is disposed downstream of the secondary transfer portion in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer body 112, and the collection surface 1 a of the cleaning member 1 is in contact with the surface 112 a of the intermediate transfer body 112. In this embodiment, the cleaning member 1 is rotationally moved counterclockwise in the figure by the drive motor 7. Further, when the linear velocity of the cleaning member 1 is α and the linear velocity of the intermediate transfer body 112 is β, the linear velocity difference is set so that α> β.

When forming a color image in the image forming apparatus having such a configuration, each photoconductor surface 111a is charged by each charging unit 110a and exposed and scanned by exposure light corresponding to the image signal of each color from the exposure unit 117. Thus, the latent images of the respective colors are formed. Each formed latent image becomes a toner image of each color developed by the toner of each color supplied from the developing unit 110b of each color. The toner image formed and carried on each photoreceptor surface 110a is sequentially transferred to the surface 112a of the intermediate transfer body 112 by the action of the primary transfer bias in each primary transfer portion, and carried as a toner image 130. It is conveyed to the next transfer section. Each photoconductor 111 to which the toner image has been transferred is cleaned by each cleaning means 110c and initialized by a charge eliminating means (not shown).
In the secondary transfer portion, the toner images 130 carried on the surface 112a of the intermediate transfer body 112 are collectively transferred onto the transfer paper P delivered in accordance with the arrival timing of the toner images 130. The transfer paper P onto which the toner image 130 has been transferred is conveyed to a fixing means (not shown), and the toner image is fixed when receiving heat and pressure.

  On the other hand, the surface 112 a of the intermediate transfer body 112 on which the toner image 130 is transferred to the transfer paper P in the secondary transfer portion moves toward the cleaning device 301. Then, the adherent T1 such as transfer residual toner or paper dust reaches the contact portion 4 where the edge portion 2 of the contact member 3 is located. At this time, in the cleaning device 301, since the cleaning member 1 is rotated counterclockwise in the figure, the deposit T1 on the surface 112a of the intermediate transfer member is diverted from the contact portion 4 downstream in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member. It is transferred to the recovery surface 1a of the cleaning member 1 and moves in a direction that does not pass through without being pulled out and recovered. The deposit T1 collected by the cleaning member 1 is removed from the collection surface 1a by the deposit removing means 8.

As described above, when the cleaning device 301 according to the present embodiment is applied to the image forming apparatus, the influence of the bias and the environmental conditions is affected in collecting the deposit T1 on the surface 112a of the intermediate transfer body 112 that has passed through the secondary transfer portion. It becomes difficult to receive and good cleaning can be achieved. Also, because no bias is used. Equipment such as a power supply is not required, and it is easy to save space and reduce the cost of the image forming apparatus. Further, since the linear velocity difference between the intermediate transfer body 112 and the transfer paper P is α> β, the toner hardly accumulates in the cleaning portion, and the cleaning performance is maintained over time.
The linear velocity α and linear velocity β between the intermediate transfer body 112 and the transfer sheet P may be α <β or α = β. When α <β, the amount of rubbing is reduced, so that the durability of the intermediate transfer member 112 is increased. When α = β, the rotational speed of the drive motor 7 Since it is not necessary to consider a speed change such as a change in the gear ratio of the drive transmission system, a controllable and mechanical structure can be simplified. For this reason, it can be easily controlled.

(Seventh embodiment)
FIG. 11 is a schematic view in which the cleaning device 301 is applied to the above-described intermediate transfer member in an image forming apparatus that ejects ink that becomes droplets from a nozzle head.
The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 11 is capable of full-color image formation using yellow, magenta, cyan, and black inks. In the figure, Y, M, C, and K are suffixes indicating members related to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The subscripts Y, M, C, and K are omitted as appropriate to avoid complications.
The image forming apparatus has a nozzle head 201 (Y, M, C, K) that ejects ink serving as an image forming unit and an image formed by ejecting each nozzle head 201 (Y, M, C, K). A transfer belt 202 is provided as an image carrier to be carried. The nozzle head 201 (Y, M, C, K) ejects ink onto the surface 202 a of the transfer belt 202 in accordance with the image signal of each color.

The transfer belt 202 is wound around rollers 213, 214, and 215. The roller 213 is a driving roller, and is rotated counterclockwise by the driving motor 213A. When the roller 213 is driven to rotate counterclockwise, the transfer belt 202 rotates in the counterclockwise direction. The transfer belt 202 positioned between the rollers 213 and 214 forms and carries an image 230 in which inks are sequentially ejected from the nozzle heads 201 and are combined. At a position facing the roller 215, the transfer roller 218 is disposed so as to be in contact with the surface 202a of the transfer belt 202 to form a transfer portion. The transfer sheet P is transported from a paper supply unit (not shown) to the transfer unit by a tanmin that the image 230 carried on the transfer belt 202 reaches the transfer unit. In this embodiment, the transfer belt 202 is configured to rotate in a counterclockwise direction.
The cleaning device 301 is disposed on the downstream side of the transfer unit in the moving direction of the transfer belt 202, and the collection surface 1 a of the cleaning member 1 is brought into contact with the surface 202 a of the transfer belt 202. In this embodiment, the cleaning member 1 is rotationally moved counterclockwise in the figure by the drive motor 7. Further, when the linear velocity of the cleaning member 1 is α and the linear velocity of the transfer belt 202 is β, the linear velocity difference is set so that α> β.

  When an image forming apparatus having such a configuration forms a color image, ink is ejected from each nozzle head 201 to form an ink image 230 on the surface 202 a of the transfer belt 202. The image 230 is carried on the transfer belt 202 and conveyed to the transfer unit. In the transfer unit, the images 230 carried on the surface 202 a of the transfer belt 202 are collectively transferred onto the transfer paper P delivered in accordance with the arrival timing of the images 230.

  On the other hand, the surface 202 a of the transfer belt 202 on which the image 230 is transferred to the transfer paper P in the transfer portion moves toward the cleaning device 301. Then, the deposit T2 such as transfer residual ink or paper dust reaches the contact portion 4 where the edge portion 2 of the contact member 3 is located. At this time, in the cleaning device 301, since the cleaning member 1 is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing, the adhering matter T2 on the surface 202a of the transfer belt 202 dives the contact portion 4 downstream in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member. It is transferred to the recovery surface 1a of the cleaning member 1 and moves in a direction that does not pass through without being pulled out and recovered. The deposit T2 collected by the cleaning member 1 is removed from the collection surface 1a by the deposit removing means 8.

As described above, when the cleaning device 301 according to the present embodiment is applied to the image forming apparatus, it is difficult to be affected by the bias and the environmental conditions when collecting the deposit T2 on the surface 202a of the transfer belt 202 that has passed through the transfer portion. Good cleaning can be achieved. Also, because no bias is used. Equipment such as a power supply is not required, and it is easy to save space and reduce the cost of the image forming apparatus.
In addition, it becomes difficult for ink to accumulate in the cleaning section, and the cleaning performance is maintained over time.
The linear velocity α and linear velocity β between the transfer belt 202 and the transfer paper P may be α <β or α = β. When α <β, the amount of rubbing is reduced, so that the durability of the transfer belt 202 is increased. When α = β, the rotational speed of the drive motor 7 and the drive are generated in order to generate a speed difference between the two. Since it is not necessary to consider a speed change such as a change in the transmission gear ratio, a controllable and mechanical structure can be simplified. For this reason, it can be easily controlled.

In the image forming apparatus, the cleaning apparatus of the first embodiment is applied. However, as a cleaning apparatus, the cleaning apparatuses 302 to 305 described in the second to fifth embodiments may be applied. Absent.
In the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 10B, the cleaning device is applied as a cleaning device for the intermediate transfer body 112. However, even if it is used as a cleaning device for each photoconductor, transfer residual toner and paper dust remaining on each photoconductor are good. Can be cleaned.

In the above embodiment, an endless belt is used as the cleaning member, but an endless belt may be used instead.
In the description of the above embodiment, the bias is not applied to each cleaning member. However, the configuration in which the bias is applied to the cleaning member or the contact member of the cleaning device described in the above embodiment is also described. It is included in the category of the invention.

  The cleaning members 1, 10 and the above-described materials include polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyester, polyolefin, vinyl, nylon, polyimide, polyamideimide, and fluorine resins such as PTFE, PFA, PVDF, and PVF. Sheets and films of the above, or a sheet prepared by applying a fluororesin or the like to a sheet made of glass, carbon, aramid, or the like can also be used.

  If the surface roughness (Ra) is 30 μm or less as the arithmetic average roughness (hereinafter simply referred to as surface roughness (Ra)) of the transfer belt 202 of the cleaning members 1 and 10 and the image carrier 50, an image is left. It can be removed without any problem. Such surface roughness was measured using a laser microscope (VK9500) manufactured by Keyence Corporation. Or you may measure surface roughness (Ra) using the measuring method based on JISB0031.

The surface roughness (Ra) of the cleaning members 1 and 10 and the transfer belt 202 as a carrier is preferably 10 μm or less, and preferably 8 μm or less when the target is a toner having a particle size of 6 μm or less. In the case of toner, the surface roughness (Ra) is preferably 14 μm or less. Further, when the target is a droplet such as ink, the surface roughness (Ra) is preferably 10 μm or less.
The particle size of the toner was determined by measuring the average particle size of 50,000 particles using a 100 μm aperture with a Coulter Counter Multisizer (Coulter). The toner particle diameter in this embodiment is a number average particle diameter.

  When the linear velocity of the cleaning members 1, 10, that is, the moving speed of the surface is 200 mm / sec or less, the surface roughness (Ra) is preferably 40 μm or less, and when it is greater than 200 mm / sec and 400 mm / sec or less When the roughness (Ra) is 30 μm or less and larger than 400 mm / sec, the surface roughness (Ra) is preferably 20 μm or less.

(Eighth embodiment)
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, a protection unit 400 is added to the cleaning device 301 described in the first embodiment. The protection unit 400 includes a solid lubricant 402 serving as a protection member, an application roller 401 serving as an application member that applies the lubricant 402 to the recovery surface 1 a serving as the surface of the cleaning member 1, and the lubricant 402 applied to the application roller 401. A spring 403 is provided as a biasing member that biases toward the front. In the present embodiment, the application roller 401 is composed of a rotatable brush roller, and is arranged so that the tip of the brush is in contact with, preferably in pressure contact with, the recovery surface 1a of the cleaning member 1 and the lubricant 402. .

  The application roller 401 is disposed downstream of the adhering substance removing unit 8 in the rotation direction of the cleaning member 1 and upstream of the contact portion 4 between the image carrier surface 50a and the collection surface 1a. The member 1 is in contact with or pressed against the collection surface 1a. In the present embodiment, the application roller 401 is configured to be driven and rotated by the movement of the cleaning member 1. However, the application roller 401 is rotationally driven by applying a driving force to the application roller 401 from a drive source such as a drive motor (not shown). It may be.

When the protective means 400 having such a configuration is provided, the lubricant 402 pressed against the application roller 401 by the spring force of the spring 403 is scraped off by the application roller 401 rotated by the movement of the cleaning member 1 and is cleaned. Is applied to the recovery surface 1a. Therefore, the cleaning member 1 and the surface of the recovery surface 1a of the cleaning member 1 are protected, so that the cleaning performance of the recovery surface 1a and the image carrier surface 50a is improved. Further, the lubricant 402 is applied to the recovery surface 1a of the cleaning member 1 by the protection unit 400 after being cleaned by the deposit removal unit 8, and therefore the lubricant 402 is scraped off by the deposit removal unit 8 before reaching the contact portion 4. The coating efficiency is good.
In the eighth embodiment, the form in which the protection means 400 is added to the first embodiment is illustrated. However, even if the protection means 400 is added to the second to fifth embodiments, it is the same as the eighth embodiment. It is described that an effect can be obtained.
(Ninth embodiment)
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, a protection unit 400 is added to the cleaning device 301 described in the sixth embodiment. The protection unit 400 includes a solid lubricant 402, an application roller 401 that applies the lubricant 402 to the recovery surface 1 a of the cleaning member 1, and a spring 403 that biases the lubricant 402 toward the application roller 401. . In the present embodiment, the contact surface 4 of the recovery surface 1 a of the cleaning member 1 is in contact with the surface 112 a of the intermediate transfer body 112.

  The application roller 401 is disposed downstream of the adhering material removing unit 8 in the rotation direction of the cleaning member 1 and upstream of the contact portion 4 with the surface 112a of the intermediate transfer body 112. The recovery surface 1a is in contact with or in pressure contact with the recovery surface 1a and is driven to rotate.

When the protective means 400 having such a configuration is provided, the lubricant 402 pressed against the application roller 401 by the spring force of the spring 403 is scraped off by the application roller 401 rotated by the movement of the cleaning member 1 and is cleaned. Is applied to the recovery surface 1a. For this reason, since the cleaning member 1 and the surface of the recovery surface 1a of the cleaning member 1 are protected, the cleaning performance of the recovery surface 1a and the surface 112a of the intermediate transfer body 112 is improved. Further, the lubricant 402 is applied to the recovery surface 1a of the cleaning member 1 by the protection unit 400 after being cleaned by the deposit removal unit 8, and therefore the lubricant 402 is scraped off by the deposit removal unit 8 before reaching the contact portion 4. The coating efficiency is good.
(Tenth embodiment)
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, a protection unit 400 is added to the cleaning device 301 described in the seventh embodiment. The protection unit 400 includes a solid lubricant 402, an application roller 401 that applies the lubricant 402 to the recovery surface 1 a of the cleaning member 1, and a spring 403 that biases the lubricant 402 toward the application roller 401. . In the present embodiment, the contact surface 4 of the recovery surface 1a of the cleaning member 1 is in contact with the surface 202a of the transfer belt 202 as an image carrier.

  The application roller 401 is disposed downstream in the rotation direction of the cleaning member 1 relative to the deposit removing means 8 and upstream of the contact portion 4 with the surface 202a of the transfer belt 202. It is configured to follow and rotate in contact with or in pressure contact with the recovery surface 1a.

  When the protective means 400 having such a configuration is provided, the lubricant 402 pressed against the application roller 401 by the spring force of the spring 403 is scraped off by the application roller 401 rotated by the movement of the cleaning member 1 and is cleaned. Is applied to the recovery surface 1a. For this reason, since the cleaning member 1 and the surface of the recovery surface 1a of the cleaning member 1 are protected, the cleaning performance of the recovery surface 1a and the surface 202a of the transfer belt 202 is improved. Further, the lubricant 402 is applied to the recovery surface 1a of the cleaning member 1 by the protection unit 400 after being cleaned by the deposit removal unit 8, and therefore the lubricant 402 is scraped off by the deposit removal unit 8 before reaching the contact portion 4. The coating efficiency is good.

Examples of the protective material 402 described above include the following.
As organic compounds, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyperfluoroalkyl ether (PFA), perfluoroethylene-perfluoropropylene copolymer (FEP), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF), ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer Fluorine resins such as coalescence (ETFE) and fluorine waxes, silicone resins such as polymethyl silicone and polymethyl phenyl silicone, silicone waxes, greases and the like.
Typical fatty acids from which fatty acid metal salts and stable hydrophobic metal salts are taken out are caproic acid, caprylic acid, enanthylic acid, pelargonic acid, undecylic acid, lauric acid, tridecoic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, Margaric acid, stearic acid, non-cyclic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, styringic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, ricinoleic acid, petrolericinic acid, vaccenic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, eleostearic acid, ricinic acid, valinalin Acids, gadoleic acid, arachidonic acid, whale oil and mixtures thereof,
As its metal salt, barium stearate, lead stearate, iron stearate, nickel stearate, cobalt stearate, copper stearate, strontium stearate, calcium stearate, cadmium stearate, magnesium stearate, zinc stearate, oleic acid Zinc, magnesium oleate, iron oleate, cobalt oleate, copper oleate, lead oleate, manganese oleate, zinc palmitate, cobalt palmitate, lead palmitate, magnesium palmitate, aluminum palmitate, calcium palmitate, Lead caprylate, lead caprate, zinc linolenate, cobalt linolenate, calcium linolenate, zinc ricinoleate, cadmium ricinoleate, and mixtures thereof.
Examples of inorganic lubricants include, but are not limited to, mica, boron nitride, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, talc, kaolin, montmorillonite, calcium fluoride, and graphite.

(Eleventh embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 15, the present embodiment is a cleaning device 306 that uses a rotating member such that the contact member 30A can be rotated by a support shaft 30b in place of the roller-shaped contact member 30 described in the fourth embodiment. is there.
As described above, when the contact member 30A is a rotating body, the cleaning member 10 rotates with the cleaning member 10 so that there is no sliding friction with the cleaning member 10. Therefore, the durability of the cleaning member 10 can be improved and the cleaning member 10 can be improved. It can be expected to reduce the driving force against. Further, when the contact member 30A is a rotating body, it is possible to ensure transferability by increasing the curvature of its outer peripheral surface. To increase the curvature, the diameter of the contact member 30A is reduced. Is preferred.

(Twelfth embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 16, the present embodiment is a cleaning device 307 having an auxiliary member 500 that suppresses the bending of the contact member 30 </ b> A configured as a rotating body described in the eleventh embodiment. When the contact member 30A is configured as a rotating body and the diameter thereof is small, the curvature is small and the transferability is improved. However, since the entire contact member 30A is thinned, the strength of the contact member 30A itself is reduced and it is easy to bend. For this reason, it may be difficult to realize a stable contact state (contact nip) with respect to the cleaning member 10 in the entire region of the contact member 30A in the rotation axis direction.

Therefore, a rotatable contact member 30A is disposed between the cleaning member 10 and the auxiliary member 500, and the contact member 30A is sandwiched between the two, thereby suppressing the bending of the contact member 30A and contacting the cleaning member 10. The contact state (contact nip) is stabilized.
It can be said that the auxiliary member 500 is disposed on the opposite side of the contact portion 40 and functions as a restriction member that restricts the movement of the contact member 30 </ b> A in the direction away from the cleaning member 10. The direction away from the cleaning member 10 refers to the direction in which the contact member 30A bends, and even if the thin contact member 30A is used by backing the auxiliary member 500 against the contact member 30A from the bending direction. The strength of the contact member 30 </ b> A can be supplemented, and the contact state (contact nip) with the cleaning member 10 by bending can be stabilized while improving transferability.
The auxiliary member 500 is attached to the base of the cleaning device 306 so that the state in contact with the outer peripheral surface 30Aa of the contact member 30A can be maintained. Alternatively, the auxiliary member 500 may be biased by a spring or the like so as to be pressed against the outer peripheral surface 30Aa of the contact member 30A.

  As shown in FIG. 17A, the auxiliary member 500 is formed of a rectangular parallelepiped or a cube-shaped block member having at least a contact surface 500a that contacts the outer peripheral surface 30Aa of the contact member 30A as a flat end surface. Yes. In this way, when the contact surface 500a that contacts the outer peripheral surface 30Aa of the contact member 30A is a flat end surface, the contact state that uniformly contacts the outer peripheral surface 30Aa becomes good, and the bending of the contact member 30A is further suppressed. This is preferable.

  As shown in FIG. 17B, the auxiliary member may be a rotating body 501 whose surface 501a is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 30Aa of the contact member 30A. As described above, when the auxiliary member is configured as the rotating body 501, there is an advantage that the friction with the contact member 30A is eliminated by rotating the contact member 30A, and wear of the contact member 30A can be prevented.

  When the auxiliary member is configured as the rotating body 501, the material may be formed of an elastic material. That is, an elastic roller may be used as the auxiliary member. As shown in FIG. 17C, it is possible to absorb the vibration of the rotating member 501 serving as the contact member 30A and the auxiliary member, and it is possible to suppress problems due to vibration.

When the contact member 30 </ b> A and the rotating body 501 are in contact with each other, as shown in FIG. The rotating body 501 rotates with the contact member 30A. For this reason, there are few loads with respect to rotation of the contact member 30A and the movement of the cleaning member 10, there is an advantage that the friction of the contact member 30A can be further prevented by a simple configuration and less friction.
In the case of FIG. 18A, the rotation of the rotating body 501 is generated by frictional force with the contact member 30A, and thus becomes a load with respect to the rotation of the contact member 30A. Finally, the cleaning member 10 is moved and driven. It becomes the load of the system. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 18B, the rotating body 501 is opposed to the contact member 30A by the drive motor M1 so that the linear velocity of the outer peripheral surface 30Aa of the contact member 30A is the same as that of the outer peripheral surface 501a. The position may be rotationally driven in the same direction. Since the rotating body 501 functioning as a backup roller can be rotationally driven in this manner, the load on the rotation of the contact member 30A and the movement of the cleaning member 10 is reduced, and there is no friction and the contact member 30A is worn. There is an advantage that can be prevented more.

  Alternatively, the driving force for the rotating body 501 is not generated by the driving motor M1, but the cleaning member 10 is brought into contact with or pressed against the outer peripheral surface 501a of the rotating body 501, as shown in FIG. You may make it obtain. In this case, the rotation direction of the rotating body 501 and the contact member 30A is determined by the relationship between the rotating body 501, the contact member 30A, and the frictional force between the contact member 30A and the cleaning member 10. For this reason, the rotation direction of the contact member 30A and the rotating body 501 corresponds to the case where the rotation direction rotates with respect to the movement of the cleaning member 10 indicated by the solid line arrow and the movement of the cleaning member 10 indicated by the broken line arrow. It may rotate in a direction that does not rotate. However, since the rotating body 501 can obtain a driving force without the driving motor M1, the configuration can be simplified. Further, since the cleaning member 10 is brought into contact with the rotating body 501, the installation area of the cleaning member 10 can be made narrower and the size can be reduced as compared with the case where the cleaning member 10 is not contacted.

Next, an example of the support structure 510 of the rotating member 501 serving as a rotating auxiliary member and the contact member 30A configured by the rotating member will be described with reference to FIG.
In the support structure 510 shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the rotating body 501 is pressed against the contact member 30A, and the distance between the axes of the contact member 30A and the rotating body 501 is constant. Both are movable in the approaching / separating direction A with the cleaning member 10 integrally. One direction of the approaching / separating direction A is the bending direction A1 of the contact member 30A, and the opposite direction is a biasing direction A2 to the cleaning member 10.
The support structure 510 includes a fixed plate 513 that rotatably supports both ends of the support shaft 30Aa of the contact member 30A and the support shaft 502 of the rotating body 501 via a pair of bearings 511 and 511 and a pair of bearings 512 and 512, respectively. 514. The fixing plates 513 and 514 are arranged to face each other, and the support shaft 30Aa and the support shaft 502 are rotatably supported so as to be parallel to each other in the axial direction. The fixing plates 513 and 514 are mounted and held so as to be movable in the approaching / separating direction A in the long holes 103 and 104 formed in the side plates 101 and 102 which are fixing portions of the cleaning device.
The support structure 510 includes a pair of coil springs 515 and 515 as biasing members that bias the fixing plates 513 and 514 in the biasing direction A2. Each coil spring 515 is interposed between the long holes 103 and 104 of the side plates 101 and 102 and the fixing plates 513 and 514, respectively.

  By providing the support structure 510 having such a configuration, the outer peripheral surface 501a of the rotating body 501 can be held in pressure contact with the outer peripheral surface 30Aa of the contact member 30A, so that the diameter of the contact member 30A is reduced. Even when the rigidity is lowered, the contact member 30A can be prevented from bending by being backed by the rotating body 501 as an auxiliary member.

The support structure 530 shown in FIG. 20 brings the rotating body 501 into a pressure contact state with the contact member 30A and the axial distance between the contact member 30A and the rotating body 501 in a variable state. It can be moved in the approaching / separating direction A.
The support structure 530 includes a fixed plate 533 that rotatably supports both ends of the support shaft 30Aa of the contact member 30A and the support shaft 502 of the rotating body 501 via a pair of bearings 531, 531 and a pair of bearings 532, 532, respectively. 534. The fixing plates 533 and 534 are disposed to face each other, and the support shaft 30Aa and the support shaft 502 are rotatably supported so as to be parallel to each other in the axial direction. The fixing plates 533 and 534 are mounted and held on the side plates 101 and 102 which are fixing portions of the cleaning device. A pair of long holes 541 and 541 and a pair of long holes 542 and 542 extending in the approaching / separating direction A are formed in the fixing plates 533 and 534, respectively. The pair of long holes 541 and 541 are formed at the end portions 533a and 534a of the fixing plates 533 and 534 near the urging direction A2, and are disposed so as to face each other. Bearings 531 and 531 for rotatably supporting the support shaft 30b are inserted and supported in the long holes 541 and 541 so as to be movable in the approaching / separating direction A, respectively. The pair of long holes 542 and 542 are formed in the end portions 533b and 534b closer to the bending direction A1 than the long holes 541 and 541 formed in the fixing plates 533 and 534, respectively, and are arranged so as to face each other. Yes. In the long holes 542 and 542, bearings 532 and 532 for rotatably supporting the support shaft 502 are inserted and supported so as to be movable in the approaching / separating direction A, respectively.

  The support structure 510 includes a pair of coil springs 535 and 535 and a pair of coil springs 536 and 536 as biasing members that bias the support shaft 30b and the support shaft 502 in the biasing direction A2. One end of each of the pair of coil springs 535 and 535 is fixed to the fixing plates 533 and 534, and both ends of the support shaft 30b are urged in the urging direction A2. A pair of coil springs 5356, 536 and one end thereof are fixed to the fixing plates 533, 534, and both ends of the support shaft 502 are urged in the urging direction A2.

By providing the support structure 530 having such a configuration, the outer peripheral surface 501a of the rotating body 501 can be held in a state of being pressed against the outer peripheral surface 30Aa of the contact member 30A, so that the diameter of the contact member 30A is reduced. Even when the rigidity is lowered, the contact member 30A can be prevented from bending by being backed by the rotating body 501 as an auxiliary member.
In the above-described support mechanisms 510 and 530, the rotating body 501 and the roller-shaped contact member 30A are supported, but instead of the rotating body 501, the block-shaped auxiliary member 500 is supported together with the contact member 30A. May be.

The present invention includes at least the following forms.
(Form 1)
The cleaning device collects deposits adhering to the surface of the image carrier by bringing the surface of the cleaning member into contact with the surface of the image carrier that can carry the image and whose surface is movable. And
An edge portion or a small diameter portion is formed on the cleaning member, and the surface of the cleaning member located at the edge portion or the small diameter portion is brought into contact with the surface of the image carrier,
In the contact portion where the surface of the image carrier and the surface of the cleaning member are in contact with each other, the movement of the surface of the cleaning member in a direction in which deposits on the surface of the image carrier do not pass through the contact portion. A cleaning device comprising means.
(Form 2)
In the cleaning device according to aspect 1,
A contact member that contacts the surface of the cleaning member opposite to the surface;
The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the edge portion or the small diameter portion is formed by bringing the contact member into contact with a surface opposite to the surface of the cleaning member.
(Form 3)
In the cleaning device according to aspect 2,
The contact member is formed of a plate-like member,
The edge part is formed by pressing the tip of the plate-like member against the surface opposite to the surface of the cleaning member.
(Form 4)
In the cleaning device according to aspect 2,
The contact member has an arcuate surface;
The small diameter portion is formed by pressing the arc surface against a surface opposite to the surface of the cleaning member.
(Form 5)
In the cleaning device according to aspect 2,
The contact member is formed of a roller member,
The small diameter portion is formed by pressing an outer peripheral surface of the roller member against a surface opposite to the surface of the cleaning member.
(Form 6)
In the cleaning device according to Form 4 or 5,
The arcuate surface or the roller member has a radius of curvature of 4 mm or less.
(Form 7)
In the cleaning device according to mode 6,
The arcuate surface or the roller member has a radius of curvature of 2 mm or more.
(Form 8)
In the cleaning device according to any one of Forms 1 to 7,
The moving means rotates the cleaning member at the contact portion so that at least the moving direction of the surface of the image carrier and the moving direction of the surface of the cleaning member are opposite to each other. Cleaning device.
(Form 9)
In the cleaning device according to any one of Forms 1 to 7,
The cleaning device, wherein the moving unit rotates and moves the cleaning member at the contact portion so that a relative speed difference is generated between a linear velocity of the image carrier and a linear velocity of the cleaning member.
(Form 10)
In the cleaning device according to aspect 9,
When the linear velocity of the cleaning member is α and the linear velocity of the image carrier is β,
The cleaning device, wherein the moving means rotates the cleaning member so that the linear velocity α> β.
(Form 11)
In the cleaning device according to aspect 9,
When the linear velocity of the cleaning member is α and the linear velocity of the image carrier is β,
The cleaning device, wherein the moving means rotates and moves the cleaning member so that the linear velocity α <β.
(Form 12)
The cleaning device according to any one of Forms 1 to 11,
It has a deposit removing means for contacting the surface of the cleaning member downstream of the contact portion in the moving direction of the surface of the cleaning member and removing the deposit adhering to the surface from the surface. Cleaning device.
(Form 13)
The cleaning device according to any one of Forms 1 to 12,
The deposit is toner particles,
The toner particles have a particle size of 8 μm or less,
The image bearing member has an average surface roughness (Ra) of 14 μm or less.
(Form 14)
In the cleaning device according to Form 13,
A cleaning device, wherein the toner particles have a particle size of 6 μm or less, and an average surface roughness (Ra) of the image carrier is 10 μm or less.
(Form 15)
The cleaning device according to any one of Forms 1 to 12,
The deposit is an ink droplet;
The image bearing member has an average surface roughness (Ra) of 10 μm or less.
(Form 16)
The cleaning device according to any one of Forms 1 to 12,
The linear velocity of the cleaning member is 200 mm / sec or less,
The image bearing member has an average surface roughness (Ra) of 40 μm or less.
(Form 17)
The cleaning device according to any one of Forms 1 to 12,
The linear velocity of the cleaning member is greater than 200 mm / sec and not greater than 400 mm / sec,
The image bearing member has an average surface roughness (Ra) of 30 μm or less.
(Form 18)
The cleaning device according to any one of Forms 1 to 12,
The linear velocity of the cleaning member is greater than 400 mm / sec,
The image bearing member has an average surface roughness (Ra) of 20 μm or less.
(Form 19)
In the cleaning device according to aspect 2,
The cleaning device, wherein the contact member is a rotating body.
(Form 20)
In the cleaning device according to Form 19,
A cleaning device comprising an auxiliary member that suppresses bending of the contact member.
(Form 21)
In the cleaning device according to Form 20,
The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein at least a contact surface that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the contact member is a flat end surface.
(Form 22)
In the cleaning device according to Form 20,
The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary member is a rotating body whose surface abuts against an outer peripheral surface of the abutting member.
(Form 23)
In the cleaning device according to Form 22,
The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating body is made of an elastic material.
(Form 24)
24. An image forming apparatus comprising the cleaning device according to any one of forms 1 to 23.
(Form 25)
An image carrier for carrying a toner image;
A cleaning member having an edge portion or a small-diameter portion, and contacting the image carrier at the edge portion or the small-diameter portion;
A first motor for rotating the image carrier in a first rotation direction;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a second motor that rotates the second image carrier in the first rotation direction.
(Form 26)
In the image forming apparatus according to Form 25,
The toner on the image carrier moves to the cleaning member before the toner enters the edge portion or the small diameter portion.
(Form 27)
An image carrier that carries a toner image on the surface;
A cleaning member having an edge portion or a small-diameter portion on a surface, and contacting the surface of the image carrier at the edge portion or the small-diameter portion;
The edge portion or the small-diameter portion moves the surface of the image carrier in the first direction, and the edge portion or the small-diameter portion moves the surface of the second image carrier opposite to the first direction. An image forming apparatus comprising: a drive source that moves in a second direction.
(Form 28)
In the image forming apparatus according to Form 27,
The toner on the image carrier moves to the surface of the cleaning member before the toner enters the edge portion or the small diameter portion.
(Form 29)
29. The image forming apparatus according to any one of forms 25 to 28,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the cleaning member has an average surface roughness (Ra) of 40 μm or less.
(Form 30)
In the image forming apparatus according to additional form 29,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the cleaning member has an average surface roughness (Ra) of 14 μm or less.
(Form 31)
In the image forming apparatus according to additional form 30,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the cleaning member has an average surface roughness (Ra) of 10 μm or less.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,10 Cleaning member 1a, 10a, Cleaning member collection | recovery surface 2 Edge part 2a Arc surface 3, 31 Plate-shaped member (contact member)
4, 40 Contact part 5 Moving means 8 Adhering substance removing means 20a Small diameter part 30 Roller member (contact member)
30A Rotating body (contact member)
30a, 30Aa Outer peripheral surface 30b Support shaft 50, 111, 112, 202 Image carrier 50a, 112a, 202a Image carrier surface 300-307 Cleaning device 400 Protection means 401 Application member 402 Lubricant 403 Spring 500 Auxiliary member 500a Contact Surface 501 Rotating body (auxiliary member)
501a Surface of rotating body R Curvature radius T, T1, T2 Deposit

Japanese Patent No. 3024125 JP 2009-192805 A

Claims (31)

The cleaning device collects deposits adhering to the surface of the image carrier by bringing the surface of the cleaning member into contact with the surface of the image carrier that can carry the image and whose surface is movable. And
An edge portion or a small diameter portion is formed on the cleaning member, and the surface of the cleaning member located at the edge portion or the small diameter portion is brought into contact with the surface of the image carrier,
In the contact portion where the surface of the image carrier and the surface of the cleaning member are in contact with each other, the movement of the surface of the cleaning member in a direction in which deposits on the surface of the image carrier do not pass through the contact portion. A cleaning device comprising means. The cleaning device according to claim 1.
A contact member that contacts the surface of the cleaning member opposite to the surface;
The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the edge portion or the small diameter portion is formed by bringing the contact member into contact with a surface opposite to the surface of the cleaning member. The cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein
The contact member is formed of a plate-like member,
The edge part is formed by pressing the tip of the plate-like member against the surface opposite to the surface of the cleaning member. The cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein
The contact member has an arcuate surface;
The small diameter portion is formed by pressing the arc surface against a surface opposite to the surface of the cleaning member. The cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein
The contact member is formed of a roller member,
The small diameter portion is formed by pressing an outer peripheral surface of the roller member against a surface opposite to the surface of the cleaning member. The cleaning device according to claim 4 or 5,
The arcuate surface or the roller member has a radius of curvature of 4 mm or less. The cleaning device according to claim 6.
The arcuate surface or the roller member has a radius of curvature of 2 mm or more. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The moving means rotates the cleaning member at the contact portion so that at least the moving direction of the surface of the image carrier and the moving direction of the surface of the cleaning member are opposite to each other. Cleaning device. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The cleaning device, wherein the moving unit rotates and moves the cleaning member at the contact portion so that a relative speed difference is generated between a linear velocity of the image carrier and a linear velocity of the cleaning member. The cleaning device according to claim 9, wherein
When the linear velocity of the cleaning member is α and the linear velocity of the image carrier is β,
The cleaning device, wherein the moving means rotates the cleaning member so that the linear velocity α> β. The cleaning device according to claim 9, wherein
When the linear velocity of the cleaning member is α and the linear velocity of the image carrier is β,
The cleaning device, wherein the moving means rotates and moves the cleaning member so that the linear velocity α <β. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
It has a deposit removing means for contacting the surface of the cleaning member downstream of the contact portion in the moving direction of the surface of the cleaning member and removing the deposit adhering to the surface from the surface. Cleaning device. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
The deposit is toner particles,
The toner particles have a particle size of 8 μm or less,
The image bearing member has an average surface roughness (Ra) of 14 μm or less. The cleaning device according to claim 13.
A cleaning device, wherein the toner particles have a particle size of 6 μm or less, and an average surface roughness (Ra) of the image carrier is 10 μm or less. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
The deposit is an ink droplet;
The image bearing member has an average surface roughness (Ra) of 10 μm or less. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
The linear velocity of the cleaning member is 200 mm / sec or less,
The image bearing member has an average surface roughness (Ra) of 40 μm or less. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
The linear velocity of the cleaning member is greater than 200 mm / sec and not greater than 400 mm / sec,
The image bearing member has an average surface roughness (Ra) of 30 μm or less. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
The linear velocity of the cleaning member is greater than 400 mm / sec,
The image bearing member has an average surface roughness (Ra) of 20 μm or less. The cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein
The cleaning device, wherein the contact member is a rotating body. The cleaning device according to claim 19, wherein
A cleaning device comprising an auxiliary member that suppresses bending of the contact member. The cleaning device according to claim 20, wherein
The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein at least a contact surface that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the contact member is a flat end surface. The cleaning device according to claim 20, wherein
The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary member is a rotating body whose surface abuts against an outer peripheral surface of the abutting member. The cleaning device according to claim 22, wherein
The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating body is made of an elastic material.   An image forming apparatus comprising the cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 23. An image carrier for carrying a toner image;
A cleaning member having an edge portion or a small-diameter portion, and contacting the image carrier at the edge portion or the small-diameter portion;
A first motor for rotating the image carrier in a first rotation direction;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a second motor that rotates the second image carrier in the first rotation direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 25.
The toner on the image carrier moves to the cleaning member before the toner enters the edge portion or the small diameter portion. An image carrier that carries a toner image on the surface;
A cleaning member having an edge portion or a small-diameter portion on a surface, and contacting the surface of the image carrier at the edge portion or the small-diameter portion;
The edge portion or the small-diameter portion moves the surface of the image carrier in the first direction, and the edge portion or the small-diameter portion moves the surface of the second image carrier opposite to the first direction. An image forming apparatus comprising: a drive source that moves in a second direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 27.
The toner on the image carrier moves to the surface of the cleaning member before the toner enters the edge portion or the small diameter portion. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 25 to 28,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the cleaning member has an average surface roughness (Ra) of 40 μm or less. 30. The image forming apparatus according to claim 29, wherein
The image forming apparatus, wherein the cleaning member has an average surface roughness (Ra) of 14 μm or less. The image forming apparatus according to claim 30, wherein
The image forming apparatus, wherein the cleaning member has an average surface roughness (Ra) of 10 μm or less.

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